Master Hours (-ji), Minutes (-fun/-pun), Days of the Week, Action Particle に (ni), Boundaries から・まで & Verb Tense Matrix (ます/ません/ました/ませんでした)
| Japanese (Kanji) | Romaji | Pronunciation | English Meaning | Audio |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| おきます (起きます) Verb | okimasu | [oh-kee-mahs] | get up, wake up | |
| ねます (寝ます) Verb | nemasu | [neh-mahs] | sleep, go to bed | |
| はたらきます (働きます) Verb | hatarakimasu | [hah-tah-rah-kee-mahs] | work | |
| やすみます (休みます) Verb | yasumimasu | [yah-soo-mee-mahs] | take a rest, take a holiday, be absent | |
| べんきょうします (勉強します) Verb | benkyoushimasu | [behn-kyoh-shee-mahs] | study | |
| おわります (終わります) Verb | owarimasu | [oh-wah-ree-mahs] | finish, end |
| Japanese (Kanji) | Romaji | Pronunciation | English Meaning | Audio |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| デパート | depaato | [deh-pah-toh] | department store | |
| ぎんこう (銀行) | ginkou | [geen-koh] | bank | |
| ゆうびんきょく (郵便局) | yuubinkyoku | [yoo-been-kyoh-koo] | post office | |
| としょかん (図書館) | toshokan | [toh-shoh-kahn] | library | |
| びじゅつかん (美術館) | bijutsukan | [bee-joot-soo-kahn] | art museum |
| Japanese (Kanji) | Romaji | Pronunciation | English Meaning | Audio |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| いま (今) | ima | [ee-mah] | now | |
| ーじ (ー時) | -ji | [jee] | - o'clock (hour counter) | |
| ーふん（ーぷん） (ー分) | -fun (-pun) | [foon / poon] | - minute (minute counter) | |
| はん (半) | han | [hahn] | half (e.g. 6:30 = roku-ji han) | |
| なんじ (何時) | nanji | [nahn-jee] | what time | |
| なんぷん (何分) | nanpun | [nahn-poon] | what minute | |
| ごぜん (午前) | gozen | [goh-zehn] | a.m., morning | |
| ごご (午後) | gogo | [goh-goh] | p.m., afternoon | |
| あさ (朝) | asa | [ah-sah] | morning | |
| ひる (昼) | hiru | [hee-roo] | daytime, noon | |
| ばん（よる） (晩 / 夜) | ban (yoru) | [bahn / yoh-roo] | night, evening | |
| けさ (今朝) | kesa | [keh-sah] | this morning | |
| こんばん (今晩) | konban | [kohn-bahn] | this evening, tonight | |
| やすみ (休み) | yasumi | [yah-soo-mee] | rest, holiday, a day off | |
| ひるやすみ (昼休み) | hiruyasumi | [hee-roo-yah-soo-mee] | lunchtime, lunch break |
| Japanese (Kanji) | Romaji | Pronunciation | English Meaning | Audio |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| おととい | ototoi | [oh-toh-toy] | the day before yesterday | |
| きのう (昨日) | kinou | [kee-noh] | yesterday | |
| きょう (今日) | kyou | [kyoh] | today | |
| あした (明日) | ashita | [ah-shee-tah] | tomorrow | |
| あさって (明後日) | asatte | [ah-saht-teh] | the day after tomorrow | |
| まいあさ (毎朝) | maiasa | [my-ah-sah] | every morning | |
| まいばん (毎晩) | maiban | [my-bahn] | every night | |
| まいにち (毎日) | mainichi | [my-nee-chee] | every day | |
| げつようび (月曜日) | getsuyoubi | [geht-soo-yoh-bee] | Monday (Moon day) | |
| かようび (火曜日) | kayoubi | [kah-yoh-bee] | Tuesday (Fire day) | |
| すいようび (水曜日) | suiyoubi | [soo-ee-yoh-bee] | Wednesday (Water day) | |
| もくようび (木曜日) | mokuyoubi | [moh-koo-yoh-bee] | Thursday (Wood / Tree day) | |
| きんようび (金曜日) | kinyoubi | [keen-yoh-bee] | Friday (Gold / Metal day) | |
| どようび (土曜日) | doyoubi | [doh-yoh-bee] | Saturday (Earth / Soil day) | |
| にちようび (日曜日) | nichiyoubi | [nee-chee-yoh-bee] | Sunday (Sun day) | |
| なんようび (何曜日) | nanyoubi | [nahn-yoh-bee] | what day of the week | |
| ばんごう (番号) | bangou | [bahn-goh] | number (e.g. phone number) | |
| なんばん (何番) | nanban | [nahn-bahn] | what number | |
| 〜から | ~ kara | [kah-rah] | from ~ (starting point in time/space) | |
| 〜まで | ~ made | [mah-deh] | up to ~, until ~ (finishing point) | |
| 〜と〜 | ~ to ~ | [toh] | and (used to connect nouns) |
| Japanese (Kanji) | Romaji | Pronunciation | English Meaning | Audio |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| そちら | sochira | [soh-chee-rah] | your place, your company/side | |
| たいへんですね。 (大変ですね) | taihen desu ne. | [ty-hehn deh-soo neh] | That's tough, isn't it? (expresses sympathy) | |
| えーと | eeto | [ehh-toh] | well, let me see... / umm | |
| １０４ (いちまるよん) | ichi-maru-yon | [ee-chee mah-roo yohn] | information, directory assistance number | |
| お願いします。 (おねがいします) | onegaishimasu | [oh-neh-guy-shee-mahs] | Please. (lit. I ask for a favor) | |
| かしこまりました。 | kashikomarimashita | [kah-shee-koh-mah-ree-mah-shee-tah] | Certainly (sir / madam). [Polite humble acknowledgement] | |
| お問い合わせの 番号 | otoiawase no bangou | [oh-toy-ah-wah-seh noh bahn-goh] | the number being inquired about | |
| ［どうも］ありがとう ございました。 | [doumo] arigatou gozaimashita | [doh-moh ah-ree-gah-toh goh-zye-mah-shee-tah] | Thank you very much. (polite past completed) | |
| ニューヨーク | Nyuuyooku | [nyoo-yoh-koo] | New York | |
| ペキン (北京) | Pekin | [peh-keen] | Beijing | |
| ロンドン | Rondon | [rohn-dohn] | London | |
| バンコク | Bankoku | [bahn-koh-koo] | Bangkok | |
| ロサンゼルス | Rosanzerusu | [roh-sahn-zeh-roo-soo] | Los Angeles | |
| やまと美術館 | Yamato Bijutsukan | [yah-mah-toh bee-joot-soo-kahn] | Yamato Art Museum (fictitious) | |
| 大阪デパート | Oosaka Depaato | [oh-sah-kah deh-pah-toh] | Osaka Department Store (fictitious) | |
| みどり図書館 | Midori Toshokan | [mee-doh-ree toh-shoh-kahn] | Midori Library (fictitious) | |
| アップル銀行 | Appuru Ginkou | [ahp-poo-roo geen-koh] | Apple Bank (fictitious) |
1) Hour and Minute Counter Suffixes:
To tell time, Japanese attaches -ji (時) to indicate hours, and -fun / -pun (分) to indicate minutes. When asking questions, the interrogative word nan combines with the counter to form nan-ji (what time) and nan-pun (what minute).
2) Geographical Location as Topic:
As learned in Lesson 1, the particle wa indicates the topic of the sentence. You can set a foreign city as the topic to inquire about international time zones: Nyuuyooku wa ima nan-ji desu ka? (What time is it in New York now?).
| Japanese (Body Practice) | Romaji | English Meaning | Audio |
|---|---|---|---|
| ① 今 何時ですか。 …７時１０分です。 |
Ima nan-ji desu ka? ...Shichi-ji jip-pun desu. |
What time is it now? ...It is seven ten (7:10). |
|
| ② ニューヨークは 今 何時ですか。 …午前４時です。 |
Nyuuyooku wa ima nan-ji desu ka? ...Gozen yo-ji desu. |
In New York what time is it now? ...It's 4 a.m. |
1) Action Verbs as Sentence Predicates:
In Lessons 1 to 3, all sentences ended with noun predicates followed by desu (e.g., Watashi wa gakusei desu, Koko wa shokudou desu). Starting in Lesson 4, we use verbs as predicates.
2) The Role of -masu:
Attaching the suffix -masu to a verb stem turns it into a formal, polite sentence ending suitable for everyday conversation with teachers, colleagues, and acquaintances.
| Japanese (Body Practice) | Romaji | English Meaning | Audio |
|---|---|---|---|
| ③ わたしは 毎日 勉強します。 | Watashi wa mainichi benkyoushimasu. | I study every day. |
| Polarity | Non-Past (Present / Future / Habitual) | Past (Completed Action) |
|---|---|---|
| Affirmative (+) | 〜ます (-masu) Example: おきます (get up) |
〜ました (-mashita) Example: おきました (got up) |
| Negative (−) | 〜ません (-masen) Example: おきません (do not get up) |
〜ませんでした (-masen deshita) Example: おきませんでした (did not get up) |
Non-Past vs. Past Tense:
Japanese verbs do not have a distinct future tense. The non-past form (-masu) expresses both regular habitual actions (Maiasa 6-ji ni okimasu) and future actions (Ashita 6-ji ni okimasu). To describe past completed events, change the ending to -mashita or -masen deshita.
| Japanese (Body Practice) | Romaji | English Meaning | Audio |
|---|---|---|---|
| ④ 毎朝 ６時に 起きます。 | Maiasa roku-ji ni okimasu. | I get up at six every morning. (Habitual) | |
| ⑤ あした ６時に 起きます。 | Ashita roku-ji ni okimasu. | I'll get up at six tomorrow morning. (Future) | |
| ⑥ けさ ６時に 起きました。 | Kesa roku-ji ni okimashita. | I got up at six this morning. (Past completed) | |
| ⑦ きのう 勉強しましたか。 …はい、勉強しました。 …いいえ、勉強しませんでした。 |
Kinou benkyoushimashita ka? ...Hai, benkyoushimashita. ...Iie, benkyoushimasen deshita. |
Did you study yesterday? ...Yes, I did. ...No, I didn't. |
|
| ⑧ 毎朝 何時に 起きますか。 …６時に 起きます。 |
Maiasa nan-ji ni okimasu ka? ...Roku-ji ni okimasu. |
What time do you get up every morning? ...I get up at six. |
Precise Temporal Anchor:
Particle に (ni) pinpoints the specific time an action happens. Relative time expressions change their meaning depending on the day spoken, so they stand independently as adverbs without ni.
| Japanese (Body Practice) | Romaji | English Meaning | Audio |
|---|---|---|---|
| ⑨ ６時半に 起きます。 | Roku-ji han ni okimasu. | I get up at six thirty. | |
| ⑩ ７月２日に 日本へ 来ました。 | Shichi-gatsu futsuka ni Nihon e kimashita. | I came to Japan on July 2nd. | |
| ⑪ 日曜日［に］奈良へ 行きます。 | Nichi-youbi [ni] Nara e ikimasu. | I'm going to Nara on Sunday. (ni is optional) | |
| ⑫ きのう 勉強しました。 | Kinou benkyoushimashita. | I studied yesterday. (NO 'ni' after relative time!) |
Temporal and Spatial Spans:
から (kara) marks the departure point in time or space, while まで (made) marks the arrival point or limit. When combined directly with desu, they describe open hours, schedules, or durations.
| Japanese (Body Practice) | Romaji | English Meaning | Audio |
|---|---|---|---|
| ⑬ ９時から ５時まで 働きます。 | Ku-ji kara go-ji made hatarakimasu. | I work from nine to five. | |
| ⑭ 大阪から 東京まで ３時間 かかります。 | Oosaka kara Toukyou made san-jikan kakarimasu. | It takes three hours from Osaka to Tokyo. | |
| ⑮ ９時から 働きます。 | Ku-ji kara hatarakimasu. | I work from nine. (Independent 'kara') | |
| ⑯ 銀行は ９時から ３時までです。 | Ginkou wa ku-ji kara san-ji made desu. | The bank is open from nine till three. | |
| ⑰ 昼休みは １２時からです。 | Hiruyasumi wa juu-ni-ji kara desu. | Lunchtime starts at twelve (12:00). |
Exhaustive Noun Link:
Particle と (to) connects two nouns in coordinate relationship. Note that to connects nouns only; it cannot be used to connect full sentences or clauses.
| Japanese (Body Practice) | Romaji | English Meaning | Audio |
|---|---|---|---|
| ⑱ 銀行の 休みは 土曜日と 日曜日です。 | Ginkou no yasumi wa do-youbi to nichi-youbi desu. | The bank is closed on Saturdays and Sundays. |
Emotional Nuance & Social Rapport:
The sentence-final particle ね (ne) softens a statement, communicates emotional empathy with the listener's situation, or invites the listener to confirm information (equivalent to English tag questions like "isn't it?", "right?").
| Japanese (Body Practice) | Romaji | English Meaning | Audio |
|---|---|---|---|
| ⑲ 毎日 １０時ごろまで 勉強します。 …大変ですね。 |
Mainichi juu-ji goro made benkyoushimasu. ...Taihen desu ne. |
I study till about ten every day. ...That must be hard! (expressing sympathy) |
|
| ⑳ 山田さんの 電話番号は 871の 6813です。 …871の 6813ですね。 |
Yamada-san no denwa bangou wa 871 no 6813 desu. ...871 no 6813 desu ne. |
Mr. Yamada's telephone number is 871-6813. ...871-6813, right? (echo confirmation) |
| No. | Sentence Pattern (Japanese) | Romaji | English Translation | Audio |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 今 ４時５分です。 | Ima yo-ji go-fun desu. | It is five past four now (4:05). | |
| 2 | わたしは ９時から ５時まで 働きます。 | Watashi wa ku-ji kara go-ji made hatarakimasu. | I work from nine to five. | |
| 3 | わたしは 朝 ６時に 起きます。 | Watashi wa asa roku-ji ni okimasu. | I get up at six in the morning. | |
| 4 | わたしは きのう 勉強しました。 | Watashi wa kinou benkyoushimashita. | I studied yesterday. |
| No. | Dialogue (Japanese) | Romaji | English Translation | Audio |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
今 何時ですか。 …２時１０分です。 ニューヨークは 今 何時ですか。 …午前０時１０分です。 |
Ima nan-ji desu ka? ...Ni-ji jip-pun desu. Nyuuyooku wa ima nan-ji desu ka? ...Gozen rei-ji jip-pun desu. |
What time is it now? ...It is ten past two (2:10). What time is it now in New York? ...It is ten past twelve at night (0:10 a.m.). |
|
| 2 |
銀行は 何時から 何時までですか。 …９時から ３時までです。 休みは 何曜日ですか。 …土曜日と 日曜日です。 |
Ginkou wa nan-ji kara nan-ji made desu ka? ...Ku-ji kara san-ji made desu. Yasumi wa nan-youbi desu ka? ...Do-youbi to nichi-youbi desu. |
From what time to what time is the bank open? ...It is open from nine till three. On what day of the week is it closed? ...It is closed on Saturdays and Sundays. |
|
| 3 |
毎晩 何時に 寝ますか。 …１１時に 寝ます。 |
Maiban nan-ji ni nemasu ka? ...Juuichi-ji ni nemasu. |
What time do you go to bed every night? ...I go to bed at eleven o'clock. |
|
| 4 |
土曜日 働きますか。 …いいえ、働きません。 |
Doyoubi hatarakimasu ka? ...Iie, hatarakimasen. |
Do you work on Saturdays? ...No, I don't. |
|
| 5 |
きのう 勉強しましたか。 …いいえ、勉強しませんでした。 |
Kinou benkyoushimashita ka? ...Iie, benkyoushimasen deshita. |
Did you study yesterday? ...No, I didn't. |
|
| 6 |
IMCの 電話番号は 何番ですか。 …３４１の ２５９７です。 |
IMC no denwa bangou wa nan-ban desu ka? ...San-yon-ichi no ni-go-kyuu-nana desu. |
What is the telephone number of IMC? ...It is 341-2597. |
| Numeral | Hours (-ji / 時) | Minutes (-fun / -pun / 分) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | いちじ (ichi-ji) | いっぷん (ip-pun) Small つ + pun |
| 2 | にじ (ni-ji) | にふん (ni-fun) |
| 3 | さんじ (san-ji) | さんぷん (san-pun) pun |
| 4 | よじ (yo-ji) NOT yon-ji! | よんぷん (yon-pun) pun |
| 5 | ごじ (go-ji) | ごふん (go-fun) |
| 6 | ろくじ (roku-ji) | ろっぷん (rop-pun) Small つ + pun |
| 7 | しちじ (shichi-ji) shichi-ji preferred | ななふん (nana-fun) |
| 8 | はちじ (hachi-ji) | はっぷん / はちふん (hap-pun) hap-pun common |
| 9 | くじ (ku-ji) NOT kyuu-ji! | きゅうふん (kyuu-fun) |
| 10 | じゅうじ (juu-ji) | じっぷん / じゅっぷん (jip-pun / jup-pun) pun |
| Question (?) | なんじ (nan-ji) (What time) | なんぷん (nan-pun) (What minute) |